By Xinyi Li, EDITOR

During the visit to Chongqing, President Xi Jinping proposed Chongqing should strive to play three roles, namely, the supporting role in advancing Western Development Strategy in the new era, the leading role in promoting the joint development of the “Belt and Road” Initiative (BRI), and the demonstration role in boosting the green development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Chongqing is striving to play the leading role in promoting the joint development of the “Belt and Road” Initiative

How should Chongqing give full play to the three roles?

Zhang Zhikui, Director of Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce: Chongqing should act as a leader in the joint development of the BRI. In addition to the active participation in the construction, it should continue to pay much attention to the process of opening-up, so as to develop itself into an exemplary inland city of opening-up.

China (Chongqing) Free Trade Pilot Zone (CFTZ), for example, has made innovation in numerous systems which facilitates the business of Chongqing with the regions along the “Belt and Road”. By the end of last year, CFTZ has finished 129 of the 151 pilot projects according to the overall plan, with the implementation rate of 85.4%. It has also implemented 127 pilot projects of the reform experience replicated and rolled out across China.

To create a favorable business environment in Chongqing

The Report on Business Environment Evaluation of China’s Cities for 2018 indicated Chongqing ranked first in Midwest China. This result shows the increasingly better business environment of Chongqing. Additionally, Chongqing will accelerate the development into an international modern city and provide vigorous support for the private economy.

Creating a favorable business environment is also a goal of Chongqing, which can then unlock market vitality and give new impetus for the development

Chongqing carries out the opening-up strategy through a variety of exhibitions, which are effective ways to enhance its cooperation with the countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”. Therefore, it will also improve the quality and influence of these exhibitions. The Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation between East and West China and Smart China Expo are two national exhibitions. Relying on the two platforms, Chongqing should give more support to the exhibitions for “going global”. With the priority given to the markets along the “Belt and Road”, especially, Chongqing should focus on the ASEAN market, and hold the exhibition to display China’s brands and exported commodities in the key countries.

Nie Hongyan, Director of Port and Logistics Office of Chongqing Municipal People’s Government: The superior location endows Chongqing with convenient transportation. Logistics, however, is the important base for the development of the BRI. As a result, Chongqing should combine them both, to build itself into an inland international logistics hub.

As the logistics channel has opened in four directions, a railway-highway-waterway-airway logistics network has been built. Two international logistics channels, China Railway Express (Chongqing) and the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), have achieved remarkable results. Both of them serve as vital platforms westward and southward respectively for Chongqing to enhance trade exchange and cooperation with the countries along the “Belt and Road”.

Chongqing will continue to optimize its logistics system, aiming to develop into an inland international hub based on its advantageous location. Furthermore, it will attach great importance to the development of China Railway Express (Chongqing), ILSTC and international aviation corridors.

Source: Chongqing Daily News